Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has announced that his government will soon go to Parliament to pass the necessary legislation for the implementation of electoral reform for Dominica.
He made the disclosure during a press conference held recently.
Caribbean Jurist Sir Dennis Byron was tasked by the Government of Dominica to be the sole commissioner to advance efforts towards electoral reform in Dominica. His final report was presented to various groups and organizations including NGOs, media houses, churches, political parties, and trade unions, among others during a function held at the State House Conference Centre on Wednesday, June 21.
Following the final presentation of the report, these various groups and organizations participated in a series of consultations for electoral reform at various locations on the island on specific days.
“I believe all things considered, by the second week of April we will present to the public by publication of the recommendations on the government website and make it available to all and sundry, so that they can be aware of what we are proposing to take to Parliament in respect to electoral reform,” Skerrit said.
He continued, “Following which, as required by law, we will submit that to the electoral commission and then once we receive word from the electoral commission, we will go to Parliament to pass the legislation and to give the electoral commission the legal authority by Parliament to process with implementing the electoral reform measures.”
Moreover, he indicated that with respect to the electoral reform, the Attorney General and a team have gone through the proposal submitted by Sir Dennis Byron in a very scrupulous manner and also looked at all of the comments and suggestions which came out from the very expansive and engaging national consultation, “and in addition to that, taking into consideration observations and comments we received thus far from the international observers.”
“And so, the Attorney General has gone through this and there are recommendations on what we believe should go to parliament for consideration,” Skerrit explained.
In addition to that, Skerrit said his government will ensure that the necessary budgetary allocations will be made in the upcoming budget to allow for the electoral commission to have the resources to implement electoral reform measures.
“I am satisfied that we will go to Parliament before the end of the financial year and before we present the 2024-2025 budget to the country,” he stated. “It is important that we go ahead with it.”
Furthermore, Skerrit hopes that the people who said they want electoral reform and are genuinely interested in electoral reform, “will understand that we have to move and move with implementing those things.”
He went on to state that there are other issues in the Sir Byron report and some of which came out from the consultation which have implications for the constitution, so far as constitutional amendments.
“Our view is that we can achieve our objectives based on what the citizens of Dominica are saying where electoral reform is concerned without having to interfere with the constitution,” Skerrit explained. “And if we were to interfere with the constitution at this stage then there will be a prolonged process, because there are provisions in the constitution which require you to go through a referendum.”
Meantime, the Prime Minister made it clear to the public that he wants electoral reform for Dominica.
“Rest assured that Roosevelt Skerrit as Prime Minister absolutely wants electoral reform,” he said. “I absolutely want it dealt with once and for all and I absolutely want it to go before the budget address of 2024 and to get this out of the way and let us focus on equally important things that are affecting the people of Dominica.”
He added, “I want to say to the people of Dominica that nothing is going to stop me from bringing about electoral reform in Dominica. I am going with it and I am going with it full blast.”
Skerrit, you need to get it in your empty skull that electoral reform has nothing to do with you. It’s none of your business! I would be careful if I was you, your interference in this process is going to be your downfall.
In the first place, China is not democratic and will do whatever it takes to prevent any electoral reform in Dominica. Just look at Taiwan under China’s radar. If we get any electoral reform in Dominica (which is very imperative) it will be with great sacrifice and courage. Because It’s very clear as crystal that Roosevelt has no intentions, none at all to cease from being prime minister. And even if we have electoral reform the labor party will work around any reform to hold on to power. It’s not going to be easy. Dominica is in a chock hold and is wizzing to survive.
I know skerrit is feeling the squeeze….this man is just playing politics…not in the interest of Dominica….they fulling their accounts and nothing big to show what they have done so far….I am worried for Dominica…
Man hear how the leading online news outlet describing the headline of the election propaganda, election reform fraud and election reform lies of Roosevelt Skerrit. Man when you see as headline this kind of sheet you know we are lost in this country and no need to even read the article itself . I mean even if Satan told another lie about Jesus not coming there is no reason for a major news outlet to repeat that sheet when they know Skerrit is just deceiving the people. Big shame on DNO and what is left in media/ journalism in Dominica
Man hear how the leading online news outlet describing the headline of the election propaganda, election reform fraud and election reform lies of Roosevelt Skerrit. Man when you see as headline this kind of sheet you know we are lost in this country and no need to even read the article itself . I mean even if Satan told another lie about Jesus not coming there is no reason for a major news outlet to repeat that sheet when they know Skerrit is just deceiving the people
Sorry “StarBoy” we the people the patriotic Dominicans will “STOP” you by any means legally necessary if you bring any BS legislation to the peoples parliament; you and your “mouton batallie” enablers and supporters can put it in your pipe and smoke it; the battle lines have been drawn, just a reminder bro this land of many rivers is not Beijing or Moscow “go to Hell, go to Hell”
That’s the man who has BLOCKED reform since 2008 babbling, after the corrupted puppet got the infamous e-mail from Anthony Astaphan, carbon copied to Alick Lawrence and Hartley Henry. The corrupted puppet was instructed by his master don’t give no dam reform. If you do so, you won’t be re elected.
The evil soul now wants people like me to believe that he always wanted reform..What a devil…!
the man not even in dca and the man saying things?
Well it seems the PM owns electoral reform now. I hope that “reform” will include financial autonomy for the Electoral Commission
FULL BLAST.. This time no one can stop reggae. Is not what blue blue, blasting, Luftus and Lennox want, is what WE decide. The majority is in charge and in control. Nothing ain’t stopping us now. 60,000 Dominicans can’t be wrong and we diasporas have a say. It now or never. As soon as this is done, call a snap election. 20 – 2 in favor of THE DLP. Lennox will be 80 plus to contest the next general election and there will be no more UWP.
Anyone who expects fair and prudent electoral reforms orchestrated by this man who has an irresistible urge to LIE is a fool. He has been knocking the electoral reform bucket over and over spilling the much needed reform contents.
Roosevelt has learnt well from his mentor, Vladimir. An election was held in Russia very recently, unpopular Putin got 95%of the votes. This is exactly what will transpire in Dominica after Roosevelt’s dubious change to voting system.
Roosevelt has not one credible cell nor bone in his body. No sensible person will dare to attribute any form of integrity to Roosevelt and his cabinet of rogues and racketeers.
I am glad you have listened to the PEOPLE.Do NOT interfere with the constitution.
No campaigning financing.
No access to state owned radio.
No reregistration.
No 5 year limit
All registered voters have a right to vote.
No voters ID cards.
When UWP was in power between 1995 and 2000 they did not find it fit to introduce campaign financing,because they had hundreds of millions of dollars from their Reengineered Citizenship Programme.They controlled DBS radio and Kairi fm.Reregistration was not in their vocabulary.They were on stage and incharge,they ran things with 34.86% of the votes(minority).They had so much money they gave a man $4,000,000 to manage their 2000 political campaign,and they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a Sunrise village on private land to worship the rising sun.And they gave their candidates hundreds of thousands to BRIBE the electorate.The Dominica Labour Party never complained.No living registered voter will be removed from the list.Lazy do…
@Labour power
Mire puffery from a smoked brain.